FIFA initiated the sale of an additional one million tickets for the upcoming World Cup on Monday by launching a new ticket draw to kick off the tournament’s second sales phase. The draw, running until 11 a.m. Eastern on Friday, features a special time slot exclusively for residents of the host countries – United States, Canada, and Mexico. Fans from these countries selected in the draw will have the opportunity to purchase single-match tickets for games held within their home nation.
This phase is open to all fans worldwide, irrespective of their country of residence. Heimo Schirgi, the tournament’s chief operating officer, highlighted the significant global interest in the event and emphasized the special focus on the host countries. Fans from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico who participate in the draw by the closing date on Friday stand a chance to secure a designated time slot for ticket purchases starting from November 12. The allocation of these slots will take place until November 15, with winners notified at least 48 hours in advance.
In the initial ticket sales phase, residents of the host countries – the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, led ticket purchases, followed by fans from England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France. After the domestic exclusivity period ends, more fans will become eligible to secure purchasing slots starting on November 17. FIFA plans to release additional tickets in subsequent phases.
Recent reports from FIFA indicate that over one million tickets have already been sold for the World Cup, with buyers hailing from 212 different nations and territories. Currently, 28 out of the 48 team slots for the tournament have been filled.
While ticket sales progress, there are notable considerations for attendees, including visa requirements for travel to the U.S. amidst tightened immigration policies. A friendly match between Argentina and Puerto Rico was relocated from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale due to lower ticket sales possibly linked to immigration concerns. The tournament, featuring 104 matches across 16 North American venues, aims to fill approximately 7.1 million seats, though details on public availability remain undisclosed.
Ticket pricing varies across matches, with the lowest-priced seats set at $60 for several games. Premium tickets for the opening U.S. match at Inglewood, Calif., ranged from $560 to $2,735 during the initial sale. Notably, resale prices on secondary markets have soared significantly, with some listings exceeding $60,000 for the opening U.S. game. Fans can select seats from four categories, with Category 1 offering top-tier seating and Category 4 located in higher stadium sections. Dynamic pricing will likely impact ticket costs as the prestigious soccer event unfolds.
